Episode 183: The New Acquisition Model with Tom Rauen

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Tom Rauen is an entrepreneur with a passion for community, marketing, and innovation. Tom is the founder and CEO of 1-800-TSHIRTS and Envision custom screen printing and embroidery, an Inc. 5000 company. Tom is also the co-founder of Dimensional Brewing Company, a micro-brewery in Dubuque, Iowa. and served on many notable boards and non-profits including a foundation Tom and his wife Amanda started the Rauen Family Foundation with a mission to giving back to the community. 

Tom’s a fascinating guy, he’s an ultra runner, having run a 100-mile race -not just once but four times- and he’s recognized worldwide for his marketing stunts, most notably breaking the Guinness World Record for wearing the most t-shirts at once (247 t-shirts).

He’s also someone who seems to look at everything differently, from running a business to acquiring businesses (he has acquired six companies in the past seven years) which is one of the many reasons why I wanted to chat with him, we talk today about a new type of acquisition that has been happening all around us but rarely in the apparel and promo world until now. We also talk about:

  • Using your b2b resources to create a direct to consumer brand and how that can benefit your b2b sales too

  • How running a hundred miles equates to business 

  • Not living your life on repeat 

  • And much more!

Mentioned in this episode:

commonsku is software specifically designed for the promotional products industry. It's a CRM, Order Management, and eCommerce platform wrapped up in one sophisticated hub. With software that intuitively connects distributors and suppliers, commonsku is like a breath of fresh air for your team. Learn more at commonsku.com

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